River Valley

The annual Eagle Day in Ferryville, WI is taking place this Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ferryville Village Hall, co-sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and the Friends of Pool 9.  The chairwoman again this year will be Monique Gonzalez with Lori Novelli as co-chair, and the emcee will be Bob Schmidt.

A program of events for the whole family will showcase the lives of eagles. Events during the day include nest building, a program on duck identification, details about the Raptor Resource Project with the Decorah Eagles, and a live bird program at 1 p.m. with the birds coming from the River Valley Raptors.

Main Street Lansing is inviting residents, business owners, and community partners to attend its Annual Public Meeting Monday, March 30 from 6-7 p.m. at TJ Hunter’s in downtown Lansing. This open meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the work Main Street Lansing has accomplished over the past year, hear updates on downtown initiatives, and learn about the organization’s vision for the future of Lansing.

Community members will also have the chance to hear from board leadership, celebrate individuals making a difference in the community, and share their own thoughts during a public comment period.

“Main Street Lansing is built on community collaboration,” said Chris Troendle, President of Main Street Lansing’s Board of Directors. “Our annual meeting is a chance to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and invite residents to be part of the conversations shaping the future of downtown Lansing.”

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, March 2, addressing a variety of matters. Among those was the scheduling of a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) property tax levy, decisions on a public works vehicle purchase and demolition of the former city hall building, and a citizen concern about water service.

The meeting commenced with a brief community recognition prior to addressing the scheduled agenda items. Mayor ProTem Mike Manning acknowledged the recent success of the Kee High School girls basketball team and the team’s upcoming participation in the State Tournament scheduled for Wednesday, March 4. Manning recognized this achievement as both an honor for the team and the community, stating, “Congratulations to the Kee High basketball team on their date with State. They’re going down Wednesday. This is a big honor for them.”

by Joshua Sharpe

Lansing City Council members convened Monday, February 16 for a regular session that encompassed a range of fiscal actions, approvals for parks and recreation, environmental land management planning, and updates from city partners. The meeting featured discussions on the city’s budget amendment and capital project funding, including specific financial figures.

BUDGET AMENDMENT HEARING, APPROVAL
The meeting opened with a public hearing regarding an amendment to the city budget. No comments or concerns were expressed by the public during the hearing, which was then closed and moved the meeting into approval of that amendment.

Connections with area’s natural amenities, neighboring communities offer further enhancement

by Joshua Sharpe

From the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River near De Soto, WI, the Driftless landscape changes by the hour. On some winter mornings, fog settles so thick in the valley that the river and lowlands disappear entirely. From above, the scene becomes a band of treetops and sky, with eagles occasionally lifting over the ridge on steady currents.

Riverscape Vacation Rentals owner Kari Beeman said those mornings can feel almost unreal - looking down, you see “nothing but clouds” because “you are above the clouds.”

by Joshua Sharpe

During the Lansing City Council meeting Monday, February 3, discussions shifted from a specific complaint about utility work on Platt Street to broader concerns about fairness in nuisance enforcement, long-term capital expenditures, parking challenges, police preparedness, and the safe repurposing of materials from the decommissioned Black Hawk Bridge. By the conclusion of the meeting, the council had scheduled a budget amendment hearing for mid-February, agreed to lift temporary parking restrictions imposed during construction, approved the procurement of new active-shooter gear for law enforcement officers, and outlined expectations for upcoming summer events and revisions to cash-handling procedures at City Hall.

by Joshua Sharpe

Lansing’s City Hall is in the final stages of relocating into the former Lansing Middle School building at 696 Main Street in Lansing, a transition city officials describe as a practical and fiscally responsible response to changing facility needs. The move has occurred gradually over several months, with all administrative operations now functioning out of the new site.

Lansing City Clerk Teresa Severson summarized the city’s reasoning in a written response, explaining that “there isn’t much to say about the move other than it made financial sense to move into a building that wasn’t being utilized, instead of spending money on the needed repairs of the previous building.”

Main Street Lansing is inviting community members to put their knowledge to the test at Trivia Night, happening Saturday, February 7, in Lansing. This event brings teams together for friendly competition while raising funds to support downtown revitalization efforts and community programming. Participants will compete for a chance to win up to $1,000, while also enjoying raffles, a silent auction, and prizes throughout the night. Pictured above is last year’s Trivia Night championship team.

“Trivia Night is a fun way for friends, families, and coworkers to come together while supporting the work we do for downtown Lansing,” said Jackie Cooper, Executive Director of Main Street Lansing. “Every team and every sponsor helps strengthen our community.”

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, January 19, led by Mayor Mike Verdon, where members addressed a full agenda that included both immediate operational decisions and long-term planning considerations. Key topics discussed included preparations for staffing seasonal recreation, scheduling steps for budget amendments, positioning on rates for water, sewer, and trash services in light of anticipated capital pressures, and ongoing deliberations regarding the future of the old City Hall property.

The council revisited the issue of removing no-parking signs around Tough Tek Metals, along North 3rd Street and North Street. The discussion concluded with the matter being postponed for further evaluation.

Main Street Lansing is inviting community members to put their knowledge to the test at Trivia Night, happening Saturday, February 7, in Lansing. This event brings teams together for friendly competition while raising funds to support downtown revitalization efforts and community programming. Participants will compete for a chance to win up to $1,000, while also enjoying raffles, a silent auction, and prizes throughout the night. Pictured above is last year’s Trivia Night championship team.

“Trivia Night is a fun way for friends, families, and coworkers to come together while supporting the work we do for downtown Lansing,” said Jackie Cooper, Executive Director of Main Street Lansing. “Every team and every sponsor helps strengthen our community.”